ROB Thirlby has picked the brains of short-format coaching great Mike Friday as Gloucester gear up to host JP Morgan Premiership Sevens action at Kingsholm.
The Cherry and Whites will launch the Premiership's pre-season sevens tournament on Thursday, August 1 (kick-off 7.30pm).
Kingsholm will play host to the competition's South West leg, with the series final held at The Recreation Ground on August 9.
The overall competition winners will go into the inaugural World Club Sevens Series at Twickenham across the weekend of August 17 and 18
Gloucester's chief analyst Thirlby doubles as the club's sevens coach, owing to his extensive England Sevens rugby career which includes appearances at the 2001 and 2005 Sevens World Cups and the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Coaching with the invitational Samurai Rugby Sevens side again this summer, Thirlby revealed he caught up with current Kenya and former England Sevens boss Friday – to stay up to speed with the game's latest developments.
Thirlby explained: "I had a meeting with Mike, just to find out what the latest trends and developments in the game are now.
"Mike was my coach with England and now he coaches Kenya, who have improved hugely over the last few years and are now a real power in the World Sevens Series.
"Hopefully that will pay off when Gloucester go into the JP Morgan competition again.
"I really enjoy that sevens coaching, and it's important to stay as up to date on all that as possible.
"With the first leg being at Kingsholm, we'd love to put on a good show in front of our home support.
"It's a chance to get some rugby and sharpen people up, and it's a good opportunity for some of the youngsters.
"The likes of Ian Clark and Steph Reynolds have impressed in the past, and it's a good way to get in front of the first team coaches.
"We'll build that around some first team regulars and it should be an exciting night.
"It's a good platform for people to progress from.
"I think this competition is a good fit really, a good time, and sevens has definitely got a market and people are excited about it.
"Obviously I love sevens so it's something I'll always try to be involved in.
"I'm a big fan of the game. There's no hiding place for individuals, so it shows off every skill of rugby.
"And you get to see people express themselves in style."
Samurai Rugby Sevens are taking part in the Great British Sevens Series this summer, with highlights broadcast on Sky Sports.
Thirlby is relishing the chance for a coaching stint with the only invitational side he has ever represented.
He added: "I'm pretty loyal to the Samurai and now I have the chance to do some coaching for them and it's great fun.
"The circuit is getting more and more popular all the time, and that's great for the game.
"Samurai are looking for a new sponsor now actually, and as the game is growing all the time hopefully that process will be fairly seamless."
For more information on Samurai's sevens side log onto www.samurai-rugby.com.
